Anti Racism – Best of Kit

by Danielle Evans, Book 3 of 2021

“Midwest nice was a steady, polite gaslighting I found sinister, a forced humility that prevented anyone from speaking up when they’d been diminished or disrespected, lest they be labeled an outsider.
Danielle Evans, The Office of Historical Corrections

It hurt to read these stories. And NOT because they were bad, but because they were so good. Danielle Evans is a deeply talented writer crafting thoughtful expressions of American life and race relations with just a few short stories. As a white woman, I found myself responding somewhere between cringing and crying throughout these stories. My favorites were “Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain”, “Why Won’t Women Just Say What They Want?”, and “Anything Could Disappear”. I’d recommend this collection to nearly anyone and I’m looking forward to reading what Evans writes in the future.

Recommended for: Anyone. Just read these. Note: Audiobook lovers, each story has a different narrator and they are all excellent.

Actions I will take in response to this book:

Reconsider the way “midwest nice” impacts people who don’t fit in with the cultural norms and instead work for meaningful dialogue about differences.
Read more short story collections.

Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Abduction, Racism, Hate Crime

written by Ladee Hubbard, Book 5 of 2021

“All of this requires effort on my part. This effort is called work. And when I work I expect to be paid. Paid? That’s right. Cash.”
Jennie – The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard.

This book was not at all what I expected in the best way. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction from African American perspectives but this was a truly unique story. It centers on Mr. Sitwell, a groundskeeper for a wealthy white family who over the course of the first half of the novel, rediscovers some unsettling memories from his past that lead to some unsettling repercussions.

I found myself unable to unplug from the story, needing to find out where the characters would end up. I enjoyed the split structure of the novel. The first and second half are told by two different narrators separated by several years. My one complaint about this was that it felt like it left some key questions unanswered. I’ve seen some reviews compare it to the Academy Award winning film Parasite and I do see some interesting parallels that could make for a great book club discussion. Honestly, I could see a lot of ways this book would make a great book club choice. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile…

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an early copy of this audiobook in return for my honest feedback.

Recommended for: Anyone wanting a new take on historical racial injustice and its intersection with capitalism. Anyone interested in considering the role our biological and chosen families play in our lives and what we owe each other.

Actions I will take in response to this book:

Constantly monitor how the legacy of white supremacy continues to this day and interrupt its modern manifestations.
Pay black women for their work and support black owned businesses.

Content Warnings: Death of a Parent, Violence, Death, Race Violence